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Occasionally, players gripe about pre-season dates, moan about the meaninglessness of it all.

Never too loudly.

But they can do without the extra work, the extra risk.

Not the Calgary Flames these days.

With that rush-job of a training camp, with that sprinkling of arrivals, with that freshly hired (and demanding) head coach, a couple of friendlies would have been welcome — for a change.

As it was, they got none.

And now, according to assistant captain Curtis Glencross, it shows.

"After the lockout, when media were asking, (we said) it would be nice to have an exhibition game in there — it would have been great," Glencross said after Monday's 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in National Hockey League action at the Scotiabank Saddledome. "You can figure stuff out. Get a little more time to get used to your linemates. We have a bunch of new guys in here. Just to get an all-around read, right?

"It's one of them things, you get a couple exhibition games in there — one, at least — you can look at the video. It tough for coaches to break down video just from practice. It's a whole different story when you get into a game situation.

"And, obviously, we've got to be better."

Jay Bouwmeester, however, declined to blame the early-season stumbling on the lack of exhibition contests.

"If there's confusion, breakdowns, that sort of thing, that's one thing," said the defenceman. "But, for periods of time, it's just slipped away from us. I don't think (pre-season action) has anything to do with anything.

"It's just being focused. And, if something bad happens, getting back at it."

Whatever's the issue, it best be fixed.

Losses, on back-to-back nights, drop the Flames to 0-2-0 — not the log anyone wants to lug into Vancouver, where the winless locals are sure to be surly.

"Well, we all know how short the season is," said Glencross. "You can't afford to give up these points this early. You drop a couple of the first ones, you're playing behind the 8-ball the rest of the year. We can't afford that."

Glaringly apparent is the Flames' inconsistency.

Good period, bad period, good, bad, etc.

After a brilliant opening Sunday, they fouled up in the middle stages against the San Jose Sharks.

After a terrible opening Monday, they took over in the middle stages against the Ducks, paving the way, perhaps predictably, for a letdown.

Because in a deadlocked third period, with the game sitting there, it had been the Ducks who burst forward.

Daniel Winnik, at 4:02, and Ryan Getzlaf, at 11:15, made it 5-3.

"Pretty much two identical goals — we can't afford that," said Glencross. "There's obviously some positives out there, but we've still got to take care of our own end. Ultimately, the best way to play defence is to be in the other end. But when it comes into our own end, we have to bear down. Too many loose pucks around the net . . . and they have easy goals."

The Flames did get within one — thanks to Lee Stempniak at 14:04 — which set the stage for a finish that was as frantic as the start had been flat.

Curiously, the hosts had watched the visitors put seven of the first eight shots on net, watched them score three times — Getzlaf at 1:06, Saku Koivu at 7:23, Winnik at 10:53.

But instead of taking their cue to exit silently, the Calgarians got going.

"You're playing from behind," said Bouwmeester, "but we did a good job — we came back."

Sparking them was, of all things, the power play. After Toni Lydman cross-checked toughie Tim Jackman, the first unit connected.

Everyone did his job.

Dennis Wideman, from the point, shot. Glencross deflected.

Suddenly, at 16:54, the hosts had life.

Alex Tanguay counted late in the first, Glencross — another power-play tip — counted early in the second, and the Flames drew even.

"At times, it's been good," said Bouwmeester. "I think we've showed the way we want to play. If we can be consistent with that — the way we played in the second period (Monday), the way we played in the first period (Sunday) — it's just a matter of putting a whole game together.

"Because when you're rolling like that and everyone's skating and you're putting pucks in good places, it shows that that's what works."

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